Saudi Arabia Suspends Umrah Firm Over Failure to Provide Pilgrim Housing
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday suspended an Umrah service company and its overseas agent after they failed to provide accommodation promised to pilgrims, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The ministry said the company violated regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Several pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without the required lodging arrangements, prompting immediate regulatory action.
“These measures are aimed at protecting the rights of affected pilgrims, preventing similar violations in the future, and continuing to improve service standards,” the ministry said.
The move follows a series of enforcement actions by the ministry. In June, authorities suspended seven Umrah companies over shortcomings in transportation services provided to pilgrims.
Saudi officials have stressed stricter oversight as Umrah numbers continue to rise. According to earlier SPA reports citing the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, more than 1.7 million Muslims from around the world traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during the Islamic month of Jumada Al-Akhirah, corresponding to Nov. 22 through Dec. 20.
